Kent Food Bank institutes new protocol amid coronavirus outbreak

The Kent Food Bank is located on the lower level of the Kent Community House on North Main Street in Kent, Conn.

The Kent Food Bank is located on the lower level of the Kent Community House on North Main Street in Kent, Conn.

Photo: Google Maps / Google

Photo: Google Maps / Google

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The Kent Food Bank is located on the lower level of the Kent Community House on North Main Street in Kent, Conn.

The Kent Food Bank is located on the lower level of the Kent Community House on North Main Street in Kent, Conn.

Photo: Google Maps / Google

Kent Food Bank institutes new protocol amid coronavirus outbreak

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KENT — The town’s food bank, located inside the Kent Community House on North Main Street, is instituting a new protocol due to the novel coronavirus emergency.

Anyone who is ill will be asked to not go inside the building. Instead, they should wait in their cars and food bank staff will bring food to them.

Those who are not ill must also wait outside the building until a staff member indicates that they may enter. Entrance will be limited to three people at a time, with possible exceptions for larger family groups.

Once allowed inside, visitors must thoroughly wash their hands in the restrooms before entering the food bank.

Shopping inside the food bank must be done “as quickly as possible,” said Social Services Director Leah Pullaro.

Visitors will not be allowed to touch bakery items and must be assisted by staff members.

The food bank will be giving out extra shopping bags for emergency food “in case it becomes necessary to close the food bank for a period of time,” said Pullaro.

If the food bank needs to close, Pullaro said she will “make every effort” to contact those who use it by telephone, and a notice with closure information will be posted on the town’s website, as well as at the entrance of the food bank.

The food bank is for Kent residents who need help meeting their daily nutritional needs. It operates through the support of the Kent Community Fund and with the help of volunteers.